Following increase in electricity tariff, and the exorbitant cost of petroleum products in Nigeria, the Biafra De Facto Customary Government, BDFCG, has expressed “grave concerns and condemnation” over the developments.
Reacting in a statement issued by BDFCG Spokesperson, Prosper Odinga, the group said the recent increase in electricity tariff, as well as the high cost of petroleum products, are efforts to further reduce people’s purchasing power.
It alleged that “the ruling political elites in Nigeria belong to only one tribe – Corruption”, reason “they have subjected ordinary people to emotional, mental, psychological, and physical torture”.
The statement recommended as imperative; immediate action to rectify these unjust policies and ensure that the basic needs of the Nigerian people are met without undue financial strain.
Details of the statement:
PRESS STATEMENT
Sun, April 7, 2024
Biafra De Facto Customary Government Berates President Tinubu on Electricity Tariff, Demands Overhaul of the Entire Colonial System
In light of recent developments regarding the increase in electricity tariff and the exorbitant cost of petroleum products, we, the Biafra De Facto Customary Government, wish to express our grave concerns and condemnation.
We have noted that the ruling political elites in Nigeria belong to only one tribe – Corruption. This is why they have subjected ordinary people to emotional, mental, psychological, and physical torture. The ruling political class, like in Animal Farm, has kept ordinary people in perpetual cat-and-mouse situations.
The BDFCG has viewed the recent increase in electricity tariff, as well as the high cost of petroleum products, as efforts to further reduce people’s purchasing power.
This tariff increase is not only a reckless move, it is also a complete disregard for the well-being and welfare of indigenous people with a significant negative impact on the already struggling population, further exacerbating the gap between the rich and the poor.
We wish to emphasize in this statement that the breakdown of the new electricity tariff revealed an alarming burden that the owners of the land will face in affording electricity daily, which unambiguously displays the government’s blatant disregard for the well-being of its citizens and a betrayal of the trust placed in this current administration under President Bola Tinubu.
Sadly, the cost of petroleum products is too exploitative; wickedness has taken over our land. And this is about the time indigenous populations in Nigeria took over their lands and redistributed their resources equitably and evenly in their own terms at the rate that will be affordable to all and sundry.
It is imperative that immediate action be taken to rectify these unjust policies and ensure that the basic needs of the people are met without undue financial strain.
The Federal Government, through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS), has launched an innovative identity solution with payment functionality for all types of social and financial services to be powered by AfriGO, a National domestic card scheme.
The National ID card, layered with verifiable National Identity features, is backed by the NIMC Act No. 23 of 2007, which mandates NIMC to enrol and issue a General Multipurpose card (GMPC) to Nigerians and legal residents.
A statement by Kayode Adegoke, Head of Corporate Communications, NIMC, indicates that this card will address the demand for physical identification enabling cardholders prove their identity, access government and private social services, facilitate financial inclusion for disenfranchised Nigerians, empower citizens, as well as encourage increased participation in nation-building.
The statement adds that only registered citizens and legal residents with the National Identification Number (NIN) will be eligible to request the card, which will be produced according to ICAO standards.
Adegoke notes that holders will also be able to use the cards as debit or prepaid cards by linking same to bank accounts of their choices while enabling eligible persons, especially those excluded from social and financial services access to multiple government intervention programs.
NIMC pledges to maintain high standards of data protection, while urging Nigerians to visit its website www.nimc.gov.ng for further information.
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has revealed the areas within their area of coverage in the south east that will be affected by the new tariff hike.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, on Wednesday, approved a sharp increase in electricity tariffs for customers classified under Band A.
Customers in this category will now be charged N225 per kilowatt-hour (KW/h). It is a significant rise from the previous rate of N66 electricity tariff.
The new rate took effect on 3rd April 2024.
This was revealed by Musliu Oseni, the Vice Chairman of NERC. You can read the full list of Band A electricity tariff areas across the country HERE.
Meanwhile, the regulator has directed all Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos, to provide as much clarity as possible to all affected customers.
For instance, on the new electricity tariff, NERC said: “All customers wrongly billed at the new rate should be refunded through energy tokens no later than Thursday the 11th of April 2024.
“And (they should) file evidence of compliance with the Commission by the 12th of April 2024.
EEDC said the proper facilities are being put in place to ensure that the areas listed received the mandated number of hours within their network.
Below are the Band A areas of EEDC affected by the new tariff:
The last time i traveled to Enugu , i confirmed that Government is about perception. From awka to amansea ,i witnessed several potholes on major roads . But the moment i entered enugu , our car started cruising at a steady speed indicating the smoothness of the road.
At Enugu , the entire potholes have sudenly disappeared. That is first impression that a new captain is in charge of Enugu State. I begin to trust the government because of this simple work that cannot be quantified – perception.
Few minutes ago ,i saw a video of Gov Soludo in Okpoko with the people celebrating him for touching their lives . I started asking questions!
What has Gov Soludo done for Okpoko people ? I can only see road construction!
Did Gov Soludo know the exact population of people living in Okpoko? Did Gov Soludo give grants to market women in Okpoko ! Has he built smart schools for the Okpoko residents as Abia and Enugu have awarded contracts for building of 170 smart schools within one year? Is public pipe borne water running in Okpoko?
I dont blame Okpoko Residents! No government has remembered them in the last 18 years . So them ,Gov Soludo is a miracle worker. Our people are really suffering! The north and the west ( yoruba) controlled federal govt are busy sharing our oil money among the populace in form of agric loan , industrial loan ,now student loans etc . We are here praise singing for construction of roads . God help us . Ndubuisi Anaenugwu,GGM Ambassador
You’re one of my favorite religious leaders in Nigeria, and my followers can testify that. However, after reading your letter to one Mr. Mathias, I decided to correct some wrong impressions your post might directly or indirectly raise in the minds of a free African child.
While I appreciate your well articulated letter to Mathias, I wish to let us all know that Christianity did not bring science or technology to us (Ndi Igbo), such teaching is a very wrong teaching, and may send a wrong information to the psyche of an African child. It may also create the impression that every one of us using modern technology is indebted to the christian religion which is not true.
Sccience and scientists deserves the credit for the invention of various technologies, not religion. Various scientists that invented both the ancient and modern techs we use today belong to different religions, cultures, race, etc. And in fact, most of the major scientists that laid the FOUNDATION of today’s science were atheists or irreligious. Aside that, there was already science and technology in Africa and Ala Igbo precisely before the coming of Oyibo people, just that we were growing in our own pace, time, and dimension.
Yes, the missionaries just like the colonial government also introduced us to some scientific inventions from the the west, many which were invented by scientists from different religions and backgrounds. In fact, some of such techs were invented by atheist and irreligious scientists. This is to tell us that the work of science belongs to no religion or race.
The colonial government and their missionaries were like middle men looking for their own interests, Africa/Ndi Igbo do not owe them. This is because at the end, our ancestors either paid them with their resources, or by joining and supporting their church (we know how the catholic church and Anglican church were competing on securing denomination territories). Hence, it’s wrong for anyone to make it appear as if our people owes the church, or that our people should be grateful or never to leave or criticize the church. We weren’t at their mercy, our ancestors lived good and healthy lives based on the standard of when they existed. And for whatever the missionaries or the colonial government brought to us, they gained even more.
Hence, let’s stop giving the credits of science and scientists to christianity. Let’s not also forget that it was the church that murdered many scientists especially in the medieval era, and labeled them witches, blasphemous, unbelievers, etc. We read how the church was anti-science. It’s’s even the modern church (thanks to the intelligence of the modern Catholicism) that had to evolve to embrace science and be critical with faith. This even led to Pope Johnpaul ii apologizing on behalf of the church for the death of Galileo and everyother atrocious acts of the church during the dark age. Which we also bring us back to the fact that there’s no atrocity some of our ancestors committed in the name of gods or God that the church haven’t committed in the name of God in the past, and even somehow in the present too.
Back to the main discussion;
Science belongs to no religion. Science is the product of man’s intellect, and it’s universal.
On the aspect of education, let’s not forget that the oldest trace of formal education points towards Egypt (with ancient Egyptian religion), then to Greece (with ancient Greek religion) before Rome and Isreal. So if Ndi Igbo are to embrace, be grateful, and never to criticize or abandon the christian religion because of the saying that we got formal education from them, then why did Christians abandon and even criticize the ancient Egyptian and Greek religions whom their faithfuls (Egyptian and Greek religions) were the inventors and spreaders of formal education, which even the missionaries benefited from? Why didn’t Christians embrace and be grateful to the Egyptian and Greek religions too for giving them formal education? That brings us to another fact that education belongs to no race, religion, or culture, but to man generally. It is a necessity that we all must learn from someone else regardless of religion and race. knowledge is a human right.
Again Padre, I will also add that you study more about the Write Brothers you talked about, because tho they weren’t atheists, they weren’t religious either. In fact, it was mostly Christians that mocked and discouraged them for trying to dare God by inventing something that would make man fly. I’m sure they would have been imprisoned or killed by Christians if they had existed and came up with the idea in Europe during the medieval era.
It’ll shock us all to know that most scientists that invented the earliest and primary level of various techs we use today are either atheist or irreligious. Then among the religious ones, we have not just Christians but Muslims, Buddhists, Vikings, Hindus, etc.
The fathers of this internet we use today Bob Kahn and Vint Cerf are not Christians but irreligious, Tho Bob was born into a Jewish family.
The facebook we are using today was invented by a Jewish cum irreligious Mark Zuckerberg.
I don’t even want to talk about atheist or irreligious scientists that shaped modern science like Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Charles Dawins, Thomas Edison, Marie Curie etc. Even Galileo tho a Christian, but was never a conformist as he puts reason before faith. Therefore, must we all become atheist or irreligious because we benefited from from the brain work of such people?
…Or if Onye Odinana invents a good medicine, or helps to ship in neccessary scarce goods for our people to use, does it mean that no igbo should criticize Odinana or reject Odinana because we benefited from Onye Odinana?
Note; this review is not to support Mathias or christianity, nor do I intend to promote atheism, my point and intentions is to tell mostly Igbo Christians to stop blackmailing non Igbo Christians emotionally with the ignorant statement that christianity gave us science or technology whenever anyone queries or criticizes christianity. They even do that without knowing that most of the techs were invented by non Christians.
Again, the Christian religion for almost a century did to omenana exactly what Mathias is doing to the Christian faith today, what I expected from learned Igbo Christian leaders is to first make amendments. The catholic church in Igbo land should apologize to Ndi omenana for the unprovoked destruction and demonization of the traditional institutions for years. From there, we can start looking towards reconciliation, which we bring real tolerance, unity, and sustainability in our society. But making people like Mathias look bad because their criticism against the Christian faith, I would like to note that such showcases lack of honesty.
While we advise people like Mathias not to go extreme with their beliefs, the church should know that they lack the moral impetus to call for tolerance when they have in the past and in present continually criticize and demonize the traditional institutions. In any situation in life, if there’s an unprovoked provocation, the first thing to discuss before peace is apology. That’s the rule. And Pope Johnpaul ii and even our own Fada Angelo have showcased a good example.
I’m just a freethinker, not here to support any religion.
A 15-member transition committee has been appointed for the Igbo socio-economic and political organization, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF).
The appointment of the transition committee follows the dissolution of all organs of ADF by the ADF Congress, which is the supreme authority of the Igbo group.
According to a communique signed on behalf of ADF Congress by its chairman, Emeritus Prof T. Uzodinma Nwala, and two other members including Arch Eric Eyutchae and Mazi Joel Ogbonna, the 15-member transitional committee would organise election within the period to fill the dissolved offices.
Part of the communique reads: “In accordance with the decision of the ADF Council, the ADF Congress – the Supreme Organ of ADF – was convoked in five Centers in Nigeria and three Centers in the Diaspora in which well-over two thousand members participated.
“They met in a globally coordinated Zoom in Nigeria at Enugu, Abuja, Lagos, Awka, Owerri and Abia; and three Centers in the Diaspora in New York, Washington and the United Kingdom.
“The ADF Congress is the Supreme Organ of ADF made up of ‘all categories of ADF membership, members of Affiliates bodies, friends and partners of ADF and all real lovers and protagonists of genuine Igbo interests.
“The Congress was summoned in the light of the persistent attempt by enemies of ADF and Alaigbo to destroy the ADF which is today the major bulwark in the Igbo political and socio-economic struggle for survival in a hostile Federation. Congress thereby called upon to assume its Supreme Authority over the affairs of ADF in-order to restore normalcy.
“After full deliberations, the ADF Congress through a formal motion assumed full authority over the affairs of ADF. Consequently, all the organs of ADF including the Board of Trustees, The ADF Council, the Working Committee and all other Standing Committees are dissolved.
“The Congress shall take immediate steps to ensure that normalcy is restored and all the organs shall be constitutionally restored immediately after that.
“Congress is given two months to do this and take necessary constitutional steps to organize elections to restore all the relevant organs of ADF.
“A fifteen (15)- member Transitional Committee was set up charged with managing a three-month transition agenda which includes the following –
Emeritus Prof T. Uzodinma Nwala – Chairman
Mazi Joel Ogbonna
Arch Eric Eyutchae
Barr Ukpai Ukairo
Mr Onochie Ukaeme
Mr Emmanuel Agbowo Ndubisi
Rev Felix Onyeise
Chief Akubue Ezekwugo
Mr Udechukwu Christian Iwuagwu
Mrs Euchria Akegbe
Mrs Oludo Nzeribe
Prof Charles Ilegbune SAN
Mr Patrick Oguejiofor
Capt Casmir Nwafor Rtd
Mr Osita Chukwuagbanarinam ADF Admin Officer.
The Transition Committee is charged with
Organizing the meetings of the Congress
House- Cleaning Exercise through a Disciplinary Committee
iii. Constituional Review
iv. Audit of Account
Electionnof Officers
vi. A Publication on TEN YEARS OF ADF
The largest-ever global deployment of cholera rapid diagnostic tests got underway on Friday, the World Health Organization and its partners said, boosting the fight against surging infections.
Malawi received the initial shipment of tests, kicking off a global diagnostics programme aimed to speed up the detection of outbreaks. In total, more than 1.2 million tests will be distributed to 14 high-risk countries over the coming months, the UN health agency said in a statement.
“Countries that will receive kits in the coming weeks in this largest-ever global deployment include those currently severely impacted by cholera outbreaks, such as Ethiopia, Somalia, Syria, and Zambia,” the statement said.
The programme is a joint venture, with the Gavi vaccine alliance handling funding and coordination and the UN children’s agency UNICEF taking care of procurement.
WHO said that it and the Global Task Force on Cholera Control were also lending their support.
The programme is aimed at helping countries speed up and improve the accuracy of cholera outbreak detection and response by boosting routine surveillance and testing capacity, the organization’s said.
“We are experiencing an unprecedented multi-year upsurge in cholera cases worldwide, and today’s announcement provides a critical boost in the fight against the disease,” Gavi’s chief programme officer Aurelia Nguyen said in the statement.
Cholera, which is contracted from a bacterium generally transmitted through contaminated food or water, causes diarrheas’ and vomiting and can be especially dangerous for young children.
Cases have been surging in recent years, with 473,000 globally reported to WHO in 2022 — double the previous year — and preliminary data indicating that more than 700,000 cases were reported last year.
The soaring number of outbreaks has created unprecedented demand for vaccines from impacted countries.
Even though the global supply of oral cholera vaccines ballooned eighteen-fold between 2013 and 2023, the surging demand has created a global shortage, Friday’s statement said.
WHO last month called for “immediate action” to address the shortage, warning of “unprecedented pressure on the global stockpile of vaccines”.
The situation, it said Friday has forced delays in preventative vaccination campaigns to preserve doses for emergency outbreak responses.
At the same time, recurring outbreaks in countries where emergency vaccination campaigns have already been carried out show a clear need to improve the speed and accuracy in identifying areas where new or persistent transmission is occurring, according to the statement.
“Surveillance diagnostics help pinpoint hotspots with great precision.
“This allows partners to target cholera vaccines to exactly the time and place where the limited supply will save the most lives,” Leila Pakkala, head of UNICEF’s supply division, said in the statement.The programme is a joint venture, with the Gavi vaccine alliance handling funding and coordination and the UN children’s agency UNICEF taking care of procurement.
WHO said that it and the Global Task Force on Cholera Control were also lending their support.
The programme is aimed at helping countries speed up and improve the accuracy of cholera outbreak detection and response by boosting routine surveillance and testing capacity, the organisations said.
“We are experiencing an unprecedented multi-year upsurge in cholera cases worldwide, and today’s announcement provides a critical boost in the fight against the disease,” Gavi’s chief programme officer Aurelia Nguyen said in the statement.
Cholera, which is contracted from a bacterium generally transmitted through contaminated food or water, causes diarrhoea and vomiting and can be especially dangerous for young children.
Cases have been surging in recent years, with 473,000 globally reported to WHO in 2022 — double the previous year — and preliminary data indicating that more than 700,000 cases were reported last year.
The soaring number of outbreaks has created unprecedented demand for vaccines from impacted countries.
Even though the global supply of oral cholera vaccines ballooned eighteen-fold between 2013 and 2023, the surging demand has created a global shortage, Friday’s statement said.
WHO last month called for “immediate action” to address the shortage, warning of “unprecedented pressure on the global stockpile of vaccines”.
The situation, it said Friday has forced delays in preventative vaccination campaigns to preserve doses for emergency outbreak responses.
At the same time, recurring outbreaks in countries where emergency vaccination campaigns have already been carried out show a clear need to improve the speed and accuracy in identifying areas where new or persistent transmission is occurring, according to the statement.
“Surveillance diagnostics help pinpoint hotspots with great precision.
“This allows partners to target cholera vaccines to exactly the time and place where the limited supply will save the most lives,” Leila Pakkala, head of UNICEF’s supply division, said in the statement.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has announced that nine persons have been arrested in connection to the killings of police officers in the Ughelli area of Delta State.
The police boss, disclosed this on Thursday, at a management meeting of the Force. He said those arrested are currently providing the Force with information that will assist in the arrest of those involved in the killings.
Six police officers were killed at Ohoro forest, in the Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State on February 23, 2024. Meanwhile, six other suspects connected with the killings are at large.
Their death came almost at the same time 17 military personnel were murdered in the oil-rich Delta State.
The soldiers were killed while on a peace mission in Okuama community of Ughelli South Local Government Area (LGA) in an incident that caused nationwide outrage and condemnation.
During their burial last week, military authorities vowed to hunt down the masterminds of the attack but insisted the development won’t deter them from stamping out criminals from the country.
President Bola Tinubu equally conferred post-humous national awards on the slain soldiers and awarded scholarships to their children.
The Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Police Command in Lagos, said it had impounded 85 motorcycles in continuation of its clamp down on motorcycles plying prohibited routes in the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this in a post he shared on his X handle, @benHundeyin, on Friday.
He said that RRS, in collaboration with Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), seized 85 motorcycles in different areas of the state on Thursday.
“RRS supported by their counterparts from LAMATA Enforcement Team carried out the operation yesterday.
“The areas visited by the team include: Ojodu Berger, Aguda (Ikeja), Iju Road, Agege, Iyana Ipaja Bridge, Abule Egba and Ogba.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company Plc has applied the new power tariff of N225/kWh to all customer bands under its franchise areas, contrary to the directive that only power users on Band A should pay the new rate.
AEDC, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, was therefore slammed a N200m fine for violating the commission’s Supplementary Order on the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order.
On Thursday, The PUNCH reported that manufacturers and the organised Labour kicked against the 240 per cent hike in the tariff payable by about 1.9 million electricity users in Nigeria, which was approved and announced by the Federal Government on Wednesday.
Subsidy on electricity was withdrawn completely from the tariffs payable by power consumers on Band A category, which constitute about 15 per cent of the total 12.82 million power users across the country.
The government announced the hike in electricity bill at a press briefing in Abuja by NERC, adding that those affected would now pay a tariff of N225 per kilowatt-hour, up from the previous rate of N68/kWh, representing about 240 per cent increase. The government declared that the decision took effect from April 3, 2024, and would only affect Band A customers.
Band A power users are those who get up to 20 hours’ supply of electricity daily and pay about N68/kWh before the implementation of this latest order by the Federal Government through NERC.
But on Friday, many customers of AEDC raised the alarm that they were not on Band A, but their bills had been raised to N225/kWh, a development that made NERC to intervene.
For instance, a customer who simply identified himself as Mr Yakubu said, “Interesting moment in Nigeria. On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, I bought an electricity token of N9,900, and I got 135 units.
“Yesterday, April 4, 2024, I wanted to confirm where NERC and AEDC social strata classification of electricity consumption puts me, so I bought electricity of N,9,900, and I got 40 units. There was no supply of electricity throughout the night. Can I be said to be enjoying Band A, 20 hours supply?”
Reacting to the development in a statement, the power sector regulator said, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has taken enforcement action against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc for non-compliance with the Supplementary Order to the April 2024 Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for AEDC.
“AEDC has been fined ₦200,000,000 for failure to comply with the prescribed customer band classifications for the tariff billing.
“This decision follows a detailed review and customer feedback, which revealed that AEDC had applied the new tariff to all customer bands, contrary to the order, which was designed to ensure fair billing practices.”
The regulator stated that the action underscored its commitment to protecting consumer rights and ensuring equitable practices within Nigeria’s electricity sector.
